PEP: Lea Salonga is excited to sing at Ogie and Regine's wedding

Filipino international singer and Broadway actress Lea Salonga expressed excitement on the possibility that she will be singing at Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez's wedding during an interview at the Town and Country Wonder Women Awards on Tuesday , September 14, at White Space, Makati City. "I wanted to, but it is really up to them. If they say I'm singing at the wedding, then I get to sing at the wedding and I'm excited about that," said Lea, who is one of the Wonder Women awardees. THE WIFE. Lea, herself, is blissfully married for six years to Robert Chien. Asked how she found her true love, she replied: "True love is not something you find, it finds you. It is something that happens in its own time. It seeks you when you least expect it. That's how it happened to me." She went on and described how she met her husband. "I wasn't looking for my husband but, lo and behold, I was introduced to him. And on my first date, I knew that he is the one," said Lea, who got a bit giddy. Robert is a cousin of one of her fellow cast members on Flower Drum Song, the Broadway musical which Lea starred in 2002. Lea and Rob first met on a blind date. After that blind date, Lea felt he is "the one." They tied the knot last January 2004 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles, California. "So, it happens when you least expect it," Lea exclaimed. She added, "The piece of advice I give is to always be open, not to close yourself off and say 'yes' to blind dates because you could never know." THE MOM. Lea and Rob is blessed with a daughter named Nicole. Asked if Nicole will be following in her footsteps anytime soon, Lea exclaimed, "No, no! She is only four and I just wanted her to be four. That's all I want for her." She said that she doesn't want Nicole to be in the entertainment business just because she is in it. "I don't want her to be anything, or to feel any pressure that she has to enter or that I'm grooming her into this business." Lea might have other plans for her daughter that could enhance the kid's other potentials. "Like now, she is showing signs that she might be really good as a dancer. I mean, she got beautiful lines and beautiful expressions, and the long arms, long legs, and she's tall. "So, I'm thinking ballet, or athletics, or sports...so that seems to be the path I may encourage her." In a jovial mood, she said as if talking to daughter Nicole: "Like, leave the singing na lang to Mommy."
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV THE DAUGHTER. Lea mentioned her mom, Mrs. Ligaya Salonga, as her "wonder woman" on top of the other she also look up to and admire. "My mom, definitely," she quipped. "Tita Bibot Amador ["mother" of Repertory Philippines], Tita Baby Barredo ["grand dame" of Repertory Philippines]; people that I have looked up to when I was starting work; people that I look up to in my personal life; my teachers in school; people who are very intelligent; people who would stay assertive and passionate about their work; people who truly had a great love on what they did." Lea attributed her success to her mom for raising her and her brother Gerard well. "My mom is a great mom and she loves raising her children, and every one of them was super passionate about theater and the arts and of their work," the proud daughter said. THE WONDER WOMAN. With the multitude of success in both her personal and career life, Lea modestly said that there is nothing she could ask for at this point in her life. "Wala, wala na talaga akong mahihingi pa. God is incredibly kind and incredibly generous. "I feel very very blessed to have the career that I have and to have my family; to be able to enjoy travel and a measure of anonymity when I travel; that I still can have a life and do my work. "I couldn't ask for anything more. God is so giving," the obviously contented Lea said. - Nica Tomines, PEP